HomeMarine aquarium fishAngelfish & butterflyfishPeppered butterflyfish Peppered butterflyfish (Chaetodon guttatissimus) Scientific name: Chaetodon guttatissimus Bennett, 1833 The Peppered butterflyfish (Chaetodon guttatissimus) is a marine fish of the family Chaetodontidae. Native range: Indian Ocean, Red Sea south to Durban, South Africa and east to Christmas Island. Reported from western Thailand and Bali, Indonesia. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 12 - 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 22-24; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 16 - 18. Body pale with close-set dusky spots, forming a vertical pattern on upper sides and horizontal on lower. Yellow margin on dorsal fin with bright orange above the caudal peduncle.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameChaetodon guttatissimusFamilyChaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length12.0Depth range3–25 m (10–82 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; depth range 3 - 25 mClimateTropicalDistributionIndian Ocean: Red Sea south to Durban, South Africa and east to Christmas Island. Reported from western Thailand and Bali, Indonesia.Conservation status (IUCN)Least Concern (LC)Threat to humansHarmlessUsesAquarium: commercialResilienceHigh, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) More angelfish & butterflyfishPajama cardinalfishSphaeramia nematopteraSeychelles butterflyfishChaetodon madagaskariensisYellowhead butterflyfishChaetodon xanthocephalusBrown-and-white butterflyfishHemitaurichthys zosterRedtail butterflyfishChaetodon collareTriangle butterflyfishChaetodon triangulumSee all angelfish & butterflyfish SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.Last updated 27 September 2026